268: Everything You Should (and Shouldn't) Do on Simulation Day

Thanksgiving week isn’t just turkey trots and family plans. For a lot of runDisney runners, it’s the first true simulation weekend for the Dopey Challenge and Goofy Challenge, and it can be the most mentally draining part of marathon training. We talk through why these long back to back efforts feel harder at home than they do in Walt Disney World, and how to set yourself up so you finish the weekend stronger instead of just surviving it. We share our best do’s for simulation weekends: get out the door even when you don’t feel like it, lay out your gear the night before, practice early wakeups, and treat safety as part of the plan with lights and visibility gear. We also dig into what to test now while you still have time to adjust: run-walk-run strategy, pacing and staying under your speed limit, rotating shoes across days, and building a recovery routine that actually lets you show up the next morning. Fueling and hydration get a full spotlight, with practical guidance on carb timing, using watch alerts, and practicing the real race morning timeline where you eat early and then wait before you start moving. We also talk about the biggest “don’ts” that can derail training, including skipping the simulation, comparing yourself to other runners or your past self, and letting one rough run convince you that race day is doomed. If you’re training for Marathon Weekend, Dopey, Goofy, or even your first half marathon, come hang with us, grab a few new tactics, and then tell us how your first simulation goes. Subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave us a review so more runners can find the Rise and Run community. Rise and Run Links Rise and Run Podcast Facebook Page Rise and Run Podcast Instagram Rise and Run Podcast Website and Shop Rise and Run Patreon Runningwithalysha Alysha’s Run Coaching (Mention Rise And Run and get $10 off) Send us Fan Mail Support the show Rise and Run Podcast is supported by our audience. When you make a purchase through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Sponsor Links Magic Bound Travel Stoked Metabolic Coaching Affiliate Links The Start Line Co. Fluffy Fizzies Mona Moon Naturals Rise and Run Amazon Affiliate Web Page Kawaiian Pizza Apparel GoGuarded